Many people take accessibility for granted. For instance, we can enjoy our lives without caring about reading signs, sidestepping obstructions, and climbing stairs.
However, that’s not the case for everyone. Accessibility means a lot to people with visual impairment. Without the necessary accessibility, these people may struggle a lot to access or navigate through a building which makes them dependent on other people.
If you’re an entrepreneur, you have a duty and responsibility to make your premises accessible to all. How do you do this? Read on and implement out expert tips.
- Make Safe Steps and Stairways
The stairways provide a key element of accessibility to your business. You have a legal duty and responsibility to provide a safe, convenient, and visually impaired friendly staircase.
But how do you do this? Start by placing continuous handrails on both sides of your stairway. Further, these handrails should attach to a post or walls at the top or bottom of the stairway.
- Give Your Premises a Tactile Effect
Blind people cannot make use of their sight to understand their environment. However, they’re competent in their sense of touch. Several doctors advise parents to helps their children develop a sense of touch whether they’re blind or not. Remember, some people lose their vision at old age.
Using the tactile tiles provides easier navigation for the blind in your premises. Make plans to incorporate tactile paving installation when designing and building the flooring during construction. After installing these tactile tiles, ensure there’s no obstruction on your walkways.
If possible, avoid strips and checks on your floorings as they create confusion.
- Make Use of Proper Signage
ADA regulations require all architectural signage to be accessible to all including the visually impaired. But how do you do this?
Make the signage posts tactile too by using braille or raised lettering. If the signage relates to a specific room, then place it next to such rooms. The last thing you want is for any disabled person to become lost, confused, or upset in your premises.
- Hallways and Walkways
The ADA regulations require corridors and hallways to provide a minimum headroom of 80 inches and above. Where this isn’t possible, a safe physical barrier is needed.
The floor in your property should be stable and slip-resistant. If you opt to use a carpet, it shouldn’t be thicker than half an inch.
Failure to comply with ADA regulations may result in legal action. If someone suffers an injury due to this omission, you’ll be held liable.
- Make Your Premises Safe
The customers need to stay safe while on your premises. However, people with visual impairment are more susceptible to bumps and accidental falls. Here’s how to make your premises safe
- Clean off any spills on the floor
- Avoid cluttering the floor
- Install grab bars where necessary especially in the bathroom
Conclusion
As a business owner, you have the responsibility of ensuring the safety to your customers. undertaking some modifications like tactile paving installation on your property is a big step towards making your premises accessible to all.
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